Elm, Siberian

The Siberian Elm typically reaches heights between 50 and 70 feet with spreads between 40 and 60 feet. Adaptable to almost any condition, the Siberian Elm can grow in places with cold winters, long, summer droughts and even by streams. The crown is open and rounded.

The alternate, simple, elliptical shaped LEAVES are 3/4 to 2 1/2 inches long. Each leaf is simply serrated and has a dark green color on the top of the leaf while the slightly paler bottom may be pubescent when young. The base of the leaf is rounded and comes to a tooth at the apex. The smaller sized leaves of the Siberian Elm help to tell it apart from the other elms. Another characteristic that sets the Siberian Elm apart is the almost symmetrical base of the leaves.

Before the leaves grow in the spring, greenish, inconspicuous FLOWERS appear in clusters of 2-5. The flowers lack petals and grow on the twigs from the preceding season.

The FRUIT from the Siberian Elm comes in the form of a 1/2” winged samara. Each circular SEED is notched at the apex and hangs in clusters.

The WOOD is brittle due to the fast growing nature of this tree. When young, the TWIGS are brownish and covered with tiny hairs, but as the tree ages the twigs turn gray and glabrous. The BARK is brownish gray.

The Siberian Elm is native to Asia where the hard wood is used for boat building and wagon wheels and the inner bark is sometimes used for coarse cloth. In America, the Siberian Elm has been widely planted in the Midwest as a source for lumber as well as windbreaks.